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Korea’s Son Heung-min will be looked upon to provide offensive spark. (AFP-Yonhap) |
When announcing South Korea’s 23-man squad on Thursday for this year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil, head coach Hong Myung-bo said his players may be young, but they don’t necessarily lack experience.
And local analysts mostly agreed with Hong’s view, saying the players have enough talent to be competitive in Brazil, where South Korea will face Algeria, Belgium and Russia in Group H.
Hong’s players are on average about 26 years old, almost two years younger than those on the last World Cup team four years ago.
Defensive back Kwak Tae-hwi, at 32, is the only player over 30.
The core players are mostly in their mid-to-late 20s, in their athletic prime.
Midfielders Lee Chung-yong and Ki Sung-yueng, are both just 25 years old, but have won 53 and 56 caps, respectively.
They are among five players who also made the 2010 World Cup team in South Africa, along with goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong, 29, midfielder Kim Bo-kyung, 24, and forward Park Chu-young, 28.
Kim Dae-gil, an analyst for the cable station KBS N, also noted that most of the World Cup-bound players ply their trade overseas, and such experience should translate well into the big tournament.
“Because they’ve played for years overseas, they probably won’t be afraid of facing opponents (from other top leagues),” Kim said.
Of the 23 players, 17 are based in leagues in Europe, China and Japan.
“Conditioning could be a key in Brazil with hot and humid weather conditions, and having young players will help the team play speedy football,” Kim added.
Huh Jung-moo, head coach of the 2010 squad who is now a vice president of the Korea Football Association, said he found it “interesting” that the current team is younger but more experienced than the one he coached in South Africa.
“You can’t really say this team lacks veterans, when you consider the players’ international pedigree,” he said. (Yonhap)
